Triton to build its third 3300/3 submarine for a superyacht owner

31 January 2012 by Caroline

Triton Submarines is poised to begin work on its third 3300/3 submersible for use on a superyacht, having built its first two for the same purpose.

The 3300/3 submarine, the first of which took its maiden dive to more than 3,000 feet off Grand Bahama in December, is so-called because it can dive to 3,300 feet and carries three passengers. It also boasts a transparent pressure hull that is the largest (2.13m in diameter) and thickest (16.5cm) acrylic sphere ever made for a submersible.

Indeed, the combination of good passenger capacity and panoramic underwater views makes the 3300/3 perfect for superyacht owners who want to explore the world beneath the waves.

The 3300/3 shares its interior layout with Triton’s planned 36000/3, which will be capable of diving to the deepest known point in the ocean, Challenger Deep. The 36000/3 will feature engineering tailored to deep sea pressures, such as batteries that sit in oil rather than air, to maintain better pressure balance with the sea outside, and a pressure hull made of silicon glass rather than acrylic.

‘The 36000/3 is also oriented vertically rather than horizontally to allow it to dive rapidly, because seven miles is a lot of ground to cover,’ says Deppe. ‘It’ll reach full ocean depth in just under two hours.’